Apples are a household favorite, but have you ever wondered why some varieties are common, but others are rare, coveted heirlooms? Or thought about the epic journey that brought apples from their birthplace in Central Asia to orchards spanning the globe or maybe your own yard? And why don’t we grow apple trees from seeds? We were curious too, which led us to invite Dr. Lisa Corwin and Amy Dunbar-Wallace onto BioTA to describe the thrilling story and science behind the Boulder Apple Tree Project, a citizen science initiative dedicated to discovering and safeguarding rare apple cultivars and preserving a living history of this beloved fruit.